Virtual Assam rally: Hemant alleges obstruction, backs Rs 500 wage demand

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday alleged misuse of power during the ongoing Assam Assembly election campaign, claiming that his helicopter was not allowed to take off due to the Prime Minister’s programme, forcing him to address an election rally virtually in support of a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate.

Addressing a public meeting online for JMM candidate Bhuben Murari from Chabua-Lahowal Assembly seat in Assam, Soren said the denial of flight clearance was an attempt to obstruct democratic political campaigning and suppress opposition voices.

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“Using power and authority to prevent political outreach is unfortunate. Such actions may create obstacles, but they cannot weaken our fight for rights and dignity,” he said.

The Jharkhand Chief Minister’s virtual address assumes significance as it reflects the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s efforts to expand its political footprint beyond Jharkhand, particularly among tea garden workers and Adivasi communities in Assam.

During his address, Soren sought to foreground labour and tribal concerns in the poll-bound state, asserting that tea garden workers deserved a minimum daily wage of Rs 500.

He said the party had chosen to campaign in the region because tea garden labourers and tribal communities had remained neglected for years. “Tea garden workers should get at least Rs 500 per day as minimum wages. That is their rightful due,” he said.

Soren also raised the issue of the tribal population in Assam not receiving adequate recognition, and questioned why sections of the Adivasi community were still awaiting justice and dignity despite decades of political promises.

Without naming any party directly, he also took aim at election-time welfare announcements, referring to promises of cash support for women and asking voters to assess whether such measures could ensure long-term security and dignity over five years.

He urged people not to be swayed by short-term inducements and called for collective assertion of social and political rights. If communities stood united and demanded justice together, he said, governments would be compelled to respond.

The rally was organised in support of Murari as part of JMM’s campaign outreach in Assam, where the party appears to be positioning itself around issues of labour rights, tribal identity and political representation.